Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been under fire as of late. From national television analysts to your run-of-the-mill podcast hosts, to even fans of his own team. There is a lot of doubt looming over the 70-year-old coaching phenom. In 2022, Belichick on paper hasn’t adequately replaced former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Instead of going out and hiring an offensive mind, or promoting from within, he instead re-hired Joe Judge with the title “special offensive assistant”. Judge has no history of coaching an offense beyond a one-year stint as receivers coach in 2019. He’s usually a special teams coordinator.
Belichick has also given Matt Patricia a greater role. Instead of being just a “Senior Football Advisor” as he was last season, he’s now been given a focus position in the offensive line. Yet Belichick has not named a play-caller. Saying “it’s OTAs, we don’t have any plays to call”. This has caused an uproar in Foxboro. Theories swirling about how Belichick is just toying with fans. How he’s lost his touch, and even some fans calling for his termination as General Manager.
It isn’t just the decisions with the coaching staff though. The media is already touting the 2022 Patriots draft class as one of the all-time worst. Taking offensive lineman Cole Strange in the first round, when many thought he’d be available far later than pick 29. Taking two running backs when your stable already consists of three solid starters. Two corners that aren’t even 5’10 after losing your best playmaker in the secondary in J.C. Jackson. The concerns are loud and clear from fans. A team that was in desperate need of upgrades in all phases, didn’t get much better at face value.
Should Fans Have Faith in Bill Belichick?
So the big question is if Patriots fans should still trust Bill Belichick. After 20 years of uninterrupted success that brought six Super Bowls, 18 AFC East championships, and countless other accolades, there is doubt among Foxboro fanatics.
I think the melt-down from Patriots fans, and the NFL fanbase is pre-mature. The NFL has improved drastically since the last time the Patriots were dominant. The AFC in particular has become extremely crowded. Teams more talented than them got better, teams at about their skill level have gotten better, and even teams below them are looking strong. The Patriots though, haven’t done nothing as some might say. In 2021 they made it to the playoffs with a rookie signal-caller and an aging defense. They have a lot of players coming into their second year in New England. I would be optimistic that some of those guys take a huge step forward like Jonnu Smith, Matt Judon, Adrian Phillips, and even Ronnie Perkins.
We’ll get to see what the Patriots look like without the aging linebacker core as Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, and Jamie Collins have effectively been replaced by Ja’Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche, and Cameron McGrone. A lot of guys are going to get the chance to play who wouldn’t have otherwise if the Pats didn’t shed the veterans. The secondary might’ve lost a great corner in J.C. Jackson, but they just drafted two corners in Marcus Jones and Jack Jones, as well as brought in Terrance Mitchell, and Super Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler, who I never thought would wear a Patriot uniform after being benched in Super Bowl LII. Belichick also signed Jabrill Peppers late in free agency, a hybrid safety who can be a bit of a swiss army knife across the defense.
Closing Thoughts
The concerns about Bill Belichick’s handling of the coaching staff are valid. I don’t like having two failed head coaches being around Mac Jones either. Especially in an ever-so-important second season for the young signal-caller. I don’t like how he hasn’t named a play-caller. I can’t tell if this is just some gag of his to troll the media and think he’s a genius by hiding this, or if the Patriots really have no idea about who’s going to be calling plays. As much as we all like to rip Josh McDaniels for a lack of innovation, I bet you sure miss the stability you had when he was here right about now.
It is important to remember though, that it’s only just entering June on the calendar. Pre-season is still a good two months away, and there’s a whole lot of work to do before the Patriots really begin running drills and plays where we can really see what we have in a guy like Tyquan Thornton. Or if Nelson Agholor has anything left to give. I think it’d be way too premature to call this a failed off-season for Bill Belichick. But the concerns are warranted. Patriots fans will just have to wait and see what they truly have, and hold all pre-mature condemnations to themselves. Not that that’s ever stopped sports radio before.
I have faith in Belichick though. The team took tremendous strides forward in 2021, even if the wheels fell off the wagon at the end. 10 wins out of that roster was a huge success in my eyes. Mac Jones reminded us all of what quarterback play could be after the 2020 disaster class. Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, and Hunter Henry form a respectable receiving core. The running game could prove to be just as good as last year. The defense is a huge question mark. No arguments there. But Bill Belichick is one of the greatest defensive minds in NFL history. Give it a shot, he hasn’t led you all that wrong yet.
